Audio signal adjusting apparatus

Abstract

An audio signal adjusting apparatus for adjusting raw audio signals to produce adjusted audio signals, comprises an audio signal adjusting unit for adjusting the raw audio signals and operably connected with loudspeakers for producing audio sounds that collectively originated from an imaginary sound source. The imaginary sound source is imagined to produce the audio sounds at a location spaced apart from each of the loudspeakers. A controlling unit allows each of the raw audio signals to be adjusted in response to a location control signal indicative of the location of the imaginary sound source. A pointer image producing unit produces a pointer image indicative of the location of the imaginary sound source. A superimposing unit is designed to superimpose the pointer image on a portion of a screen image after receiving a video signal from a video signal producing unit in response to the location control signal.

1. An audio signal adjusting apparatus for respectively adjusting a plurality of raw audio signals each having a raw signal level to produce a plurality of adjusted audio signals each having an adjusted signal level, comprising: audio signal adjusting means for respectively adjusting said raw audio signals to produce said adjusted audio signals, and to be operably connected with a plurality of loudspeakers for respectively producing a plurality of audio sounds in a specific sound space, said audio sounds being respectively indicative of said adjusted audio signals, and collectively originated from at least one imaginary sound source having a width, said imaginary sound source being imagined to produce said audio sounds at a location spaced apart from each of said loudspeakers; location control signal producing means for producing a location control signal indicative of said location of said imaginary sound source; controlling means for controlling said audio signal adjusting means to allow each of said raw audio signals to be adjusted by said audio signal adjusting means in response to said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means; pointer image producing means for producing a pointer image indicative of said location of said imaginary sound source; and superimposing means to be operably connected with video signal producing means for producing a video signal having a screen image having a portion in association with said location of said imaginary sound source, designed to superimpose said pointer image produced by said pointer image producing means on said portion of said screen image after receiving said video signal from said video signal producing means in response to said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means, and to be operably connected with display means having a screen to display said screen image on said screen after receiving said video signal from said superimposing means. 
   
   
     2. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , which further comprises width control signal producing means for producing a width control signal indicative of said width of said imaginary sound source, and in which said controlling means is operative to control said audio signal adjusting means to allow each of said raw audio signals to be adjusted by said audio signal adjusting means in response to each of said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means and said width control signal produced by said width control signal producing means. 
   
   
     3. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , which further comprises deciding means for deciding whether or not said pointer image produced by said pointer image producing means is superimposed by said superimposing means on said portion of said screen image to be displayed by said display means on said screen, and in which said superimposing means is operative to superimpose said pointer image produced by said pointer image producing means on said portion of said screen image to be displayed by said display means on said screen based on results decided by said deciding means. 
   
   
     4. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 3 , which further comprises audio signal recording means operably connected with video signal recording means having an operation timing to record said video signal produced by said video signal producing means, and designed to record said adjusted audio signals adjusted by said audio signal adjusting means in synchronization with said operation timing of said video signal recording means. 
   
   
     5. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , in which said controlling means includes a control signal converting unit for respectively converting said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means and said width control signal produced by said width control signal producing means to location information indicative of said location of said imaginary sound source and width information indicative of said width of said imaginary sound source, a signal level ratio producing unit for producing a signal level ratio of each of said adjusted signal levels of said adjusted audio signals to each of said raw signal levels of said raw audio signals based on said location information and said width information converted by said control signal converting unit, and a delay time information producing unit for producing delay time information with respect to a delay time for each of said raw audio signals based on said location information and said width information received from said control signal converting unit; and said audio signal adjusting means includes a plurality of signal level adjusting unit for respectively adjusting said raw signal levels of said raw audio signals based on said signal level ratio of each of said adjusted signal levels of said adjusted audio signals to each of said raw signal levels of said raw audio signals produced by said signal level ratio producing unit, and a plurality of delay unit for respectively delaying said raw audio signals along a time axis in response to said delay time information produced by said delay time information producing unit. 
   
   
     6. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , which further comprises a chart image producing means for producing a chart image indicative of said specific sound space having a predetermined central location and a first distance between said predetermined central location and said location of said imaginary sound source, said chart image having two different points consisting of first and second points, said first point being indicative of said predetermined central location of said specific sound space, said second point being indicative of said location of said imaginary sound source, and a second distance between said first point and said second point, and in which said screen image to be displayed by said display means on said screen has a predetermined portion, said superimposing means is operative to superimpose said chart image produced by said chart image producing means on said predetermined portion of said screen image to be displayed by said display means on said screen in response to said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means. 
   
   
     7. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , in which said chart image producing means is operative to produce said chart image having a marker indicative of said imaginary sound source, said marker having a shape indicative of said width of said imaginary sound source. 
   
   
     8. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , in which said pointer image producing means includes a pointer image producing unit for producing said pointer image having a shape indicative of said width of said imaginary sound source and a pointer image modifying unit for modifying said shape of said pointer image produced by said pointer image producing unit in response to each of said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means and said width control signal produced by said width control signal producing means; and said superimposing means is operative to superimpose said pointer image modified by said pointer image modifying unit on said portion of said screen image to be displayed by said display means on said screen. 
   
   
     9. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , in which said pointer image producing unit is operative to produce said pointer image having a color in association with said location of said imaginary sound source; said pointer image modifying unit is operative to modify said color of said pointer image produced by said pointer image producing unit in response to said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means; and said superimposing means is operative to superimpose said pointer image modified by said pointer image modifying unit on said portion of said screen image to be displayed by said display means on said screen. 
   
   
     10. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 9 , which further comprises first scale information producing means for producing a first scale information about an adjustment for said location control signal; storing means for storing said first scale information produced by said first scale information producing means; and judging means for judging whether or not said first scale information produced by said first scale information producing means are stored by said storing means, and in which said storing means is operative to store said first scale information produced by said first scale information producing means based on results judged by said judging means. 
   
   
     11. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , which further comprises second scale information producing means for producing a second scale information about an adjustment for said width control signal; and in which said storing means is store each of said first scale information produced by said first scale information producing means and said second scale information produced by said second scale information producing means, said judging means is operative to judge whether or not each of said first scale information produced by said first scale information producing means and said second scale information produced by said second scale information producing means is stored by said storing means; and said storing means is operative to store each of said first scale information produced by said first scale information producing means and said second scale information produced by said second scale information producing means based on results judged by said judging means. 
   
   
     12. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , in which said signal level ratio producing unit is operative to produce said signal level ratio of each of said adjusted signal levels of said adjusted audio signals to each of said raw signal levels of said raw audio signals based on said location information and said width information received from said control signal converting unit; and said delay time information producing unit is operative to produce said delay time information with respect to said delay time for each of said raw audio signals based on said location information and said width information received from said control signal converting unit. 
   
   
     13. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 12 , in which said pointer image producing unit is operative to produce said pointer image based on said location information converted by said control signal converting unit, said width information converted by said control signal converting unit, and each of said first scale information and said second scale information stored by said storing means; and said chart image producing means is operative to produce said chart image based on said location information converted by said control signal converting unit, said width information converted by said control signal converting unit, and each of said first scale information and said second scale information stored by said storing means. 
   
   
     14. An audio signal adjusting apparatus for respectively adjusting a plurality of raw audio signals each having a raw signal level to produce a plurality of adjusted audio signals each having an adjusted signal level, comprising: a plurality of loudspeakers for respectively producing a plurality of audio sounds in a specific sound space, said audio sounds being respectively indicative of said adjusted audio signals, and collectively originated from at least one imaginary sound source having a width, said imaginary sound source being imagined to produce said audio sounds at a location spaced apart from each of said loudspeakers; location control signal producing means for producing a location control signal indicative of said location of said imaginary sound source; audio signal adjusting means for respectively adjusting said raw audio signals to produce said adjusted audio signal to be outputted to each of said loudspeakers; controlling means for controlling said audio signal adjusting means to allow each of said raw audio signals to be adjusted by said audio signal adjusting means in response to said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means; a video signal input terminal having a video signal in association with each of said raw audio signals inputted therein, said video signal having a screen image, said screen image having a portion in association with said location of said imaginary sound source; display means having a screen to display said screen image on said screen after receiving said video signal from said video signal input terminal; pointer image producing means for producing a pointer image indicative of said location of said imaginary sound source; and superimposing means for superimposing said pointer image produced by said pointer image producing means on said portion of said screen image to be displayed by said display means on said screen in response to said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means. 
   
   
     15. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 14 , which further comprises width control signal producing means for producing a width control signal indicative of said width of said imaginary sound source, and in which said controlling means is operative to control said audio signal adjusting means to allow each of said raw audio signals to be adjusted by said audio signal adjusting means in response to each of said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means and said width control signal produced by said width control signal producing means. 
   
   
     16. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 15 , which further comprises deciding means for deciding whether or not said pointer image produced by said pointer image producing means is superimposed by said superimposing means on said portion of said screen image to be displayed by said display means on said screen, and in which said superimposing means is operative to superimpose said pointer image produced by said pointer image producing means on said portion of said screen image to be displayed by said display means on said screen based on results decided by said deciding means. 
   
   
     17. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 16 , which further comprises audio signal recording means operably connected with video signal recording means having an operation timing to record said video signal received through said video signal input terminal, and designed to record said adjusted audio signals adjusted by said audio signal adjusting means in synchronization with said operation timing of said video signal recording means. 
   
   
     18. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 17 , in which said controlling means includes a control signal converting unit for respectively converting said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means and said width control signal produced by said width control signal producing means to location information indicative of said location of said imaginary sound source and width information indicative of said width of said imaginary sound source, a signal level ratio producing unit for producing a signal level ratio of each of said adjusted signal levels of said adjusted audio signals to each of said raw signal levels of said raw audio signals based on said location information and said width information converted by said control signal converting unit, and a delay time information producing unit for producing delay time information with respect to a delay time for each of said raw audio signals based on said location information and said width information received from said control signal converting unit; and said audio signal adjusting means includes a plurality of signal level adjusting unit for respectively adjusting said raw signal levels of said raw audio signals based on said signal level ratio of each of said adjusted signal levels of said adjusted audio signals to each of said raw signal levels of said raw audio signals produced by said signal level ratio producing unit, and a plurality of delay unit for respectively delaying said raw audio signals along a time axis in response to said delay time information produced by said delay time information producing unit. 
   
   
     19. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 18 , which further comprises a chart image producing means for producing a chart image indicative of said specific sound space having a predetermined central location and a first distance between said predetermined central location and said location of said imaginary sound source, said chart image having two different points consisting of first and second points, said first point being indicative of said predetermined central location of said specific sound space, said second point being indicative of said location of said imaginary sound source, and a second distance between said first point and said second point, and in which said screen image to be displayed by said display means on said screen has a predetermined portion, said superimposing means is operative to superimpose said chart image produced by said chart image producing means on said predetermined portion of said screen image to be displayed by said display means on said screen in response to said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means. 
   
   
     20. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 19 , in which said chart image producing means is operative to produce said chart image having a marker indicative of said imaginary sound source, said marker having a shape indicative of said width of said imaginary sound source. 
   
   
     21. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 20 , in which said pointer image producing means includes a pointer image producing unit for producing said pointer image having a shape indicative of said width of said imaginary sound source and a pointer image modifying unit for modifying said shape of said pointer image produced by said pointer image producing unit in response to each of said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means and said width control signal produced by said width control signal producing means; and said superimposing means is operative to superimpose said pointer image modified by said pointer image modifying unit on said portion of said screen image to be displayed by said display means on said screen. 
   
   
     22. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 21 , in which said pointer image producing unit is operative to produce said pointer image having a color in association with said location of said imaginary sound source; said pointer image modifying unit is operative to modify said color of said pointer image produced by said pointer image producing unit in response to said location control signal produced by said location control signal producing means; and said superimposing means is operative to superimpose said pointer image modified by said pointer image modifying unit on said portion of said screen image to be displayed by said display means on said screen. 
   
   
     23. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 22 , which further comprises first scale information producing means for producing a first scale information about an adjustment for said location control signal; storing means for storing said first scale information produced by said first scale information producing means; and judging means for judging whether or not said first scale information produced by said first scale information producing means are stored by said storing means, and in which said storing means is operative to store said first scale information produced by said first scale information producing means based on results judged by said judging means. 
   
   
     24. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 23 , which further comprises second scale information producing means for producing a second scale information about an adjustment for said width control signal; and in which said storing means is store each of said first scale information produced by said first scale information producing means and said second scale information produced by said second scale information producing means, said judging means is operative to judge whether or not each of said first scale information produced by said first scale information producing means and said second scale information produced by said second scale information producing means is stored by said storing means; and said storing means is operative to store each of said first scale information produced by said first scale information producing means and said second scale information produced by said second scale information producing means based on results judged by said judging means. 
   
   
     25. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 24 , in which said signal level ratio producing unit is operative to produce said signal level ratio of each of said adjusted signal levels of said adjusted audio signals to each of said raw signal levels of said raw audio signals based on said location information and said width information received from said control signal converting unit; and said delay time information producing unit is operative to produce said delay time information with respect to said delay time for each of said raw audio signals based on said location information and said width information received from said control signal converting unit. 
   
   
     26. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , in which said pointer image producing unit is operative to produce said pointer image based on said location information converted by said control signal converting unit, said width information converted by said control signal converting unit, and each of said first scale information and said second scale information stored by said storing means; and said chart image producing means is operative to produce said chart image based on said location information converted by said control signal converting unit, said width information converted by said control signal converting unit, and each of said first scale information and said second scale information stored by said storing means. 
   
   
     27. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 23 , in which said first scale information producing means is constituted by a first joystick unit having a first joystick and an first operation surface, said first joystick having a first central axis and a first central point located on said first central axis, and said first joystick being pivotable around said first central axis at a variable inclination angle between said first central axis and said first operation surface in association with first scale information, and said first joystick unit being operative to produce said first scale information in response to said inclination angle; said location control signal producing means is constituted by a second joystick unit having a second joystick and an second operation surface, said second joystick having a second central axis and a second central point located on said second central axis, and said second joystick being pivotable around said second central axis at a variable inclination angle between said second central axis and said second operation surface in association with said location of said imaginary sound source, and said first joystick unit being operative to produce said location control signal in response to response to said inclination angle; said pointer image producing means is operative to produce said pointer image through steps of producing said pointer image in response to said location control signal produced by said first joystick unit, and adjusting said pointer image in response to said first scale information produced by said first joystick unit when said first scale information is produced by said first joystick unit under the condition that said second joystick of said second joystick unit is disposed at a first predetermined inclination angle; and said audio signal adjusting means is operative to adjust each of said raw audio signals to produce said adjusted audio signal to be outputted to each of said loudspeakers in response to each of said first scale information produced by said first joystick unit and said location control signal produced by said second joystick unit when said first scale information is produced by said first joystick unit under the condition that said second joystick of said second joystick unit is disposed at a second predetermined inclination angle. 
   
   
     28. An audio signal adjusting apparatus as set forth in  claim 24 , in which; said width control signal producing means is constituted by a first potentiometer having a first rotatable central axis, said first potentiometer is operative to produce said width control signal varied in response to a rotation angle of said first central axis; said second scale information producing means is constituted by a second potentiometer having a second rotatable central axis, said second potentiometer is operative to produce said second scale information varied in response to a rotation angle of said second central axis; said pointer image producing means is operative to produce said pointer image through steps of producing said pointer image in response to said width control signal produced by said first potentiometer, and adjusting said pointer image in response to said second scale information produced by said second potentiometer when said second scale information is produced by said second potentiometer unit under the condition that said first central axis of said first potentiometer is disposed at a first predetermined rotation angle; and said audio signal adjusting means is operative to adjust each of said raw audio signals to produce said adjusted audio signal to be outputted to each of said loudspeakers in response to said second scale information produced by said second potentiometer when said second scale information is produced by said second potentiometer under the condition that said first central axis of said first potentiometer is disposed at a second predetermined rotation angle.